The Kawartha Youth Orchestra (KYO) is mixing genres with the introduction of the Junior Folk Ensemble to the orchestra.
Saskia Tomkins, a professional musician who specializes in various string instruments, is the lead instructor for the folk band.
Currently, the folk program is primarily teaching Celtic music. The band consists of 3 violins, 1 viola, and 1 bodhrán (a drum, native to Ireland). Tomkins hopes to expand the program to include new instruments, and to teach folk music from cultures all around the world.
Information about all of KYO’s programs can be found on their website. The KYO is a registered, non-profit, charity, and it has been teaching classical music to young people since 2002.
Listen to the full CFFF story to hear audio from the folk ensembles’ rehearsal, an interview with Tomkins, and to learn about the impact of teaching folk music to children.
